Metabolic flexibility is impaired in response to acute exercise in the young offspring of mothers with type 2 diabetes

We assessed metabolic flexibility (MF) via a mixed meal in a group of young, healthy participants with a positive family history of maternal type 2 diabetes (T2D) (FH+) and those without a family history of T2D (FH−) under three distinct conditions; baseline (BL; no previous exercise), 1‐h post high intensity interval exercise (1H), and 48‐h post exercise recovery. On separate visits, participants completed a single bout of high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and repeated the MMTT 1‐h (1H) and 48 h (48H) postexercise. FH+ participants were not able to suppress fat oxidation 1‐h post exercise (1H) as effectively as FH− participants were, however, this response was improved when measured at the 48H visit. Insulin AUC was significantly lowered at both 1H and 48H when compared to the BL visit. Serum NEFA AUC was elevated 1‐h post exercise, when compared to BL, but was significantly reduced at the 48H visit. Young, healthy participants with a maternal history of T2D demonstrate impaired MF (related to the inability to suppress fat oxidation) in response to acute HIIE (1H) that was improved 48H. The overall effect of HIIE showed improved insulin AUC and NEFA AUC up to 48H post that did not differ by FH.